The number of employed persons in South Africa decreased to 16754 Thousand in the first quarter of 2026 from 17099 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2025. Employed Persons in South Africa averaged 15152.31 Thousand from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 17099.00 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2025 and a record low of 11666.00 Thousand in the first quarter of 2003. source: Statistics South Africa

Employed Persons in South Africa is expected to be 16920.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Employed Persons is projected to trend around 18100.00 Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 16754.00 17099.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 39.70 40.60 percent Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 59.00 59.30 percent Mar 2026
Population 63.10 63.02 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 8137.00 7836.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 32.70 31.40 percent Mar 2026
Wages 29690.00 29650.00 ZAR/Month Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 25364.00 25184.00 ZAR/Month Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 60.90 57.00 percent Mar 2026


South Africa Employed Persons
In South Africa, employed persons refer to the number of people employed by the business, who received payment (in salaries; wages; commission, in addition to a retainer, salary or wage; piece rates; or payments in kind) for any part of the reference period. This excludes independent contractors and consultants; working proprietors; sole and joint owners; and employees paid on a commission basis where a retainer, salary or wage was not paid. Number of employees refers to the number of people employed at the end of the reference period.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
16754.00 17099.00 17099.00 11666.00 2001 - 2026 Thousand Quarterly
Volume, NSA